Dale, I think that your suggestion sounds perfectly reasonable. Since these indices are basically serving the function of random number generators and there's no correlation (that I'm aware of) between the three indices, I can only see this as a way of speeding the proceedings (fine with me). After all, I've got an HDH auction to attend to next weekend

HI Dale, It matters not to me, but if you want to put this to bed sooner, wouldn't it be easier to use the numbers drawn in whatever big lottery your state sponsors? (i.e. Powerball or Megamillion) There are 5 or 6 numbers drawn for those, and could be easily accessed by all online, if we knew which one to check. In a week or two, it would be done! As I said, I'm not in it to win it, so whatever you choose to do is A-ok. Again, let me commend you for initiating this fundraiser; great job!

JuliaB wrote:HI Dale, It matters not to me, but if you want to put this to bed sooner, wouldn't it be easier to use the numbers drawn in whatever big lottery your state sponsors? (i.e. Powerball or Megamillion) There are 5 or 6 numbers drawn for those, and could be easily accessed by all online, if we knew which one to check. In a week or two, it would be done! As I said, I'm not in it to win it, so whatever you choose to do is A-ok. Again, let me commend you for initiating this fundraiser; great job!

Most of the lottery games I know of have numbers ranging from 1 to something in the 50s, so a little unfair to the last people who contributed! Using the 3 stock indices, odds are we'll be done in 5 or 6 business days. And maybe we'll get a couple of other donors!

Dale Williams wrote:Most of the lottery games I know of have numbers ranging from 1 to something in the 50s, so a little unfair to the last people who contributed! Using the 3 stock indices, odds are we'll be done in 5 or 6 business days. And maybe we'll get a couple of other donors!

Dale Williams wrote:Most of the lottery games I know of have numbers ranging from 1 to something in the 50s, so a little unfair to the last people who contributed! Using the 3 stock indices, odds are we'll be done in 5 or 6 business days. And maybe we'll get a couple of other donors!

Robert Reynolds wrote:If you'd buy a ticket once in a while, you'd know these things...

Classic old joke, sure you'll all heard before:A deeply religious man finds himself in dire financial trouble. He prays earnestly to his God to help him out of his predicament. "God, I'm about to lose my car. Please help me. Let me win the lottery." Lottery night comes, but sadly, Dave is not the winner.

Things go from bad to worse. Without a car to get to work, Dave loses his job. Without a job, his mortgage is foreclosed on, and he loses his home. Without a home, his wife leaves him, taking the kids. After each horrible step in the mounting crisis, he pleads with God to let him win the lottery, but he never does.

Finally, broke, hungry, living on the street, he tries again. "God, please, my life is a wreck. I have no car, no home, no family. Please let me win the lottery just this once so that I can turn my life around. I beseech you." Suddenly, a flash of light rends the sky, and the voice of God echoes down from the heavens. "Dave, meet me halfway. Buy a ticket."

Prize #5 set of 3 '97 Ridges- Geyserville, Lytton Springs & York Creek Petite Sirah (DB)Dow10,194.29We have a winner! Finally, Larry Young is our first winner, and David Bueker our first prize giver. I'll retrieve contact info and put you in touch with David (it might be

FYI - For those of you who file US income tax returns and itemize deductions, Congress rushed through a bill which was signed into law yesterday allowing you to take a charitable contribution deduction for your Haiti relief earmarked donations on your 2009 tax return, thus giving an immediate tax benefit. Non-filers and/or non-US citizenry on the forums need not pay any attention to it.